[Pen/Pencil Review] ONLINE Schreibergerate Fountain Pen Medium Nib
Back in February I did my Birthday Pilgrimage to Paradise Pen Company in Dallas. I try to pick up something I’ve never bought before. This time I picked up a Schreibgerate ONLINE fountain pen with a medium point nib. This one is part of the ONLINE Academy line designed for “Young” writers. And as the company name implies, this is a German made pen.
I picked the bright yellow plastic barrel version of this pen – though it comes in several colors – I haven’t picked up a yellow pen in quite a while. This pen is about 5.5″ capped and about 6.75″ with the cap posted. The cap and post are accented with black plastic. The pen has wave patterns to the cap and posts giving the piece a modern and textured look. The clip flows from a tapered cap and is a sturdy stainless steel with a central cut out.
The cap posts securely but with the wave pattern, you have to post it precisely and recap precisely. There’s really only one way the cap goes on, which makes using the pen rapidly a problem. I spend a second or two figuring out which way the cap goes on to make all the connections secure, but when done, there is a lovely, seamless look to the profile. The pen is light but well-balanced with its length.
The nib is a Medium point stainless steel with some etching. Though I prefer narrower points, this is not a “wide” Medium. The nib has decent flow and little skipping. It came with a standard short international cartridge in blue ink. The grip is black plastic with tapering and etching for a comfortable feel – even without “squish”. This is a solid and functional pen for new or experienced fountain pen users.
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 – It works. The ink flows well. The pen fits comfortably in the hand. The lines are smooth. It uses standard ink cartridges.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – Though the grip isn’t “squishy”, they do well to make the black grip ergonomic and comfortable. It also helps new fountain pen users hold the pen correctly to get the most out of the nib. The length is balanced with a comfortable diameter to not tire the fingers.
3. Material – 1 – It’s plastic and stainless steel. It’s designed and marketed for beginner fountain pen users and students – which is just fine.
4. Overall Design – 0.5 – Because nothing is perfect. I like the cool wave patterns in the barrel design, but it makes it a pain to post or cap the pen quickly. That irks me just a bit. I want to post and go – or cap and go – not make sure the cap is on correctly to keep from losing it.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – This is from Germany, which means it’s not exactly CHEAP. It is refillable and sturdy, so you’ll get your money’s worth, but it does run $18.95 at Paradise Pen Company. For a good student/beginner pen, it’s not a bad investment, but it’s definitely not a pen you can easily lose.
That’s 4 of 5 bronze pencils.